The US Mariner 9 was launched – it went on to become the first satellite to orbit Mars.
Source
NASA launched the 2001 Mars Odyssey space probe from Cape Canaveral.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched on its maiden flight.
The Discovery Space Shuttle was launched on the fifth Department of Defense shuttle mission.
The Soviet Union's Luna 17 uncrewed space mission launched.
Spacecraft Chang'e 1 entered lunar orbit at 02:15 UT and became the first Chinese spacecraft to orbit the moon successfully.
